Wire-fence clamp



L. E. WELLER.

WIRE FENCE CLAMP.

APPLICAHON FILED AUG-13.1921.

1,426,527. PatentedAug. 22, 1922.

LYNN n. WELLER, or near, INDIANA.

VJIRE-FENCE CLAMP.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYNN E. lVnLLnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Macy, in the county of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Fence Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawlngs.

This invention relates to wire fence clamps and is designed particularly to dispense with the ordinary form of clamp employing bolts and other similar fastening devices which are not only difficult to attach, but require considerable time and labor to connect to the fence before the stretcher can be applied.

The usual clamp employed in stretching wire fences consists principally of two wooden bars which are connected together by bolts passing therethrough, and when attaching the same to the fence each bolt has to be inserted separately and the nuts screwed up thereon, frequently stripping the threads, skinning the fingers and otherwise taking considerable time to attach. There is also difliculty, particularly when metal bars are employed, in getting the intermediate ends clamped sufficiently tight to properly stretch them, due largely tothe fact that the upper and lower strands are always of considerably greater diameter than the intermediate strands.

Itis, therefore, the tion not only to provide a clamp in which the use of bolts and similar fastening devices are dispensed with, but also to provide a clamp in which all wires are clamped with equal force and in a rapid and efficient manner.

It is another and very importantobject of the invention to provide a device of this character which can be conveniently and expeditiously attached to the wire fence and in which the parts are so associated that the greater the pressure employed in stretching the wire the greater the clamping effect of the parts upon the wire. In other words, the clamping pressure is increased in proportion to the pressure exerted in stretching the wire.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi1ed August 13, 1921.

object of this raven-- Patented Aug. 1922. Serial No. 492,205. drawings which form a part of this application and in which: i

Figure .1 is an elevatlon showing the device attached to a wire fence;

Figure 2 1s an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the clamping plates.

Referring more particularly to the drawmg, 1 represents an ordinary wire fence having the intermediate strands 2 of smaller diameter than the upper and lower strands 3 and 1, as is usual in fences commonly known throughout thefarm sections of the country as Paige fences. The clamping device conslsts of an elongatedbar having a rlght angular flange 6 connected at intervals by suitable reinforcing webs 7, as shown. The free edge connected to the flange 6, is preferably beveled, as indicated at 8, so as to produce a comparatively sharp edge to the wire, as will be hereinafter understood. This bar carries at suitable intervals the outstanding L hooks9, which are adapted to engage in the eye members 10 carried upon the plates 11, 12 and 13.

As shown in Figure 1, the platell is connected to the hooks at the bottom of the bar 5 and the plate 12 is a comparatively long plate and is connected to the hooks 9 above the plate 11. The plates 13 may be of any suitable number so that the clamp may be used upon fences of different heights and are connected to the hooks 9 on the bar 5 above the plate 12. f 4

Each of the plates 11, 12 and 13, except as to their length, is identical in construction and therefore a description of one will suffice for all. The body of the plate, indicated at 14, is flat and at one edge is provided with a lateral offset 15 to which is connected an extension 16 lying parallel with the plane ofthe body and producing with the offset a shoulder 17 adapted to receive the beveled edge 8 of the bar 5, or more correctlv speaking, fence forced against said beveled edge 8.

shoulder by the of the bar, that is the edge not the wires of the Y The bar 5, as shown, is provided at suita draft ring 21 included at a point intermediate of its length to which is attached a suitable clevis hook or open link chain indicated at 22, and which can be readily connected to a stretcher of any approved type.

In the operation of the device, the plate 11 is attached to the hooks 9 on the lower end of the bar 5, then the plate 12 is attached to the hooks 9 on the bar and one or more of the plates 13 similarly attached, taking care that one of the plates 13 is engaged with the upper strand 3 of the fence. The fence wire of course positions between the plates 11, 12 and 18 and the bar 5 and when pressure is exerted upon the cleyis 22 by the stretcher,

@ the bar 5 is canted or rocked on the plates 11, 12 and 1S and the beveled edge 8 forces the wire against the shoulder 17, thus firmly holding the same against slippage. It will be noted that the plates 11, 12 and 13 cannot turn with the edge 8 acting as a fulcrum except very slightly, due to the fact that they bear directly against the stretched wire. It will also be noted that the plates 11 and 13 operate independently of the plate 12 and thereby accommodate themselves to the increased diameter of the upper and lower strands 3 and 4 as will be readily under stood. I also wish it understood that the bar 5 is of suflicient length to accommodate the clamp to any height of fence, and that the combined length of the plates 11 and 12 is usually shorter than the lowest type of Paige fence so that at least one plate 13 must be added to take care of the upper strand, but it will be understood that any number of plates 13 maybe added so as to make the combined length of the plates 11, 12 and 13 equal to the total length of the bar 5. In this manner the lowest and highest wire fences may be clamped with the large diameter top and bottom strands properly taken care of.

What I claim is:

1. A clamp for wire fences comprising a pair of bars one of whichis constructed of a plurality of independent sections and pro vided with a shoulder, the second bar having one edge arranged to force the fence wires against said shoulder, astretchermemher secured to the opposite edge of said second bar, and removable pivotal connections between the second bar and the sections of the first bar at a pointintermediate the edges of the second bar.

2. A clamp for wire fences comprising a pair of bars, one of which is constructed of. a plurality of independent sections and provided with a shoulder, the second bar having one edge arranged to force the fence wires against said shoulder, a stretcher member secured to the opposite edge of said second bar, eyes on the first bar, and hooks on the second bar arranged intermediate the edges for movable engagement with the eyes.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

LYNN E. WELLER. 

